The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-11-26
MINING SUMMARY.
Progress of Work During the Week.
Items from Various Sources.
PORTLAND REDUCTION WORKS.

Portland, Oregon. Under the pres
ent working charges the new works
will never succeed in securing
Wood River ores. Ten per cent of
the lead and a like proportion of
silver is deducted, while the work
ing charges in addition to the rail
road freights will shut out all pos
sibility of shipping our ores in that
direction. Neither is the company
at present prepared to work any
great amount of ore, and the start
made is largely experimental. I'M
til the works are provided with
roasters, and its present capacity
increased at least double, the Port
land reduction works will not be
able to compete with the immense
plants at Omaha and Denver, or
even with our local smelter in the
working Of Wood River ores.
sAwTooTH DISTRICT.
With all the discouragements
that have attended the efforts of
those engaged at mining in Saw
tooth district, the miners at work
there on their claims have shown
a persistence in staying with their
ground that shows them to have no
little faith in the future of that
camp. There is even now reason
able expectation that Sawtooth will
next season make a good showing,
far better than for several years
past. This encouragement is found
in the late developments made in
the Silver King mine, property
that the owners seriously thought
of abandoning last summer, but
finally leased the mine to two en-
terprising miners. AT the present
time ore is being taken out averag-
ing over $500 in value, and the
leasers, now well provisioned for
the winter, intend to prosecute their
work with good hopes of being
able to make a fine showing in the
spring. The Blue Bird mine is also
showing we'll, and the fact is being
well established that there is still
plenty of good ore in the unpros-
pected hills of Sawtooth remain
ing. A far better spirit prevails
among the small claim owners
there, end the only regret is that
the wealthy corporations that have
a large number of claims do not
see fit to prosecute work on the
same in place of allowing the prop
critics to remain undeveloped and
idle on their hands.
THE SILVER STAR MILL.
Reports from the Silver Star mill
continue TO be of the most salts.
factory nature. An average of sixty
tons of ore are now being crushed
each twenty-four hours, producing
about fourteen tons of concentrates
of good value. The daily product
shows but slight variation, and the
method of treatment of the ores
can be regarded as an assured
success. Concentrates are being
stored at the mill, and by the time
the contract for hauling is begun
there will be a good supply on hand
to meet any possible emergency
that could prevent the production
of the amount agreed upon fol
daily delivery to the teams. Hor'
ace Lewis, the contractor, has a
number of men at work building
the necessary barns and other
houses in the vicinity of Thomp-
son creek, which are expected to be
finished in a day or two. The fine
weather has greatly assisted in rush
ing the preliminary work on the
road. and when done the sooner
snow falls the quicker hauling will
be begun.
1t is more than probable that
another mill will be built next sea.
son for other parties interested IN
Smoky mines, the success attend
ing the Silver Star mill giving to
the proposed builders great encour
agement to adopt similar treat
ment for the ores In their mines.
BALTIMoRE-vICToRIA.
On Monday last a shipment o
about % tons of ore from the Bal
timore- Victoria mine was made
to the Denver reduction works
All accounts agree that this prop
erty is one Of the finest in the dis
trict. but pending negotiations fo'
a sale, it has lain dormant. Ru
mors are now rife that unless salt
is effected this winter, active opera
tons will be started in the spring
and the great bodies of ore nov
exposed be taken out. The ore
shipped to Denver will average s2O'
in value, and is a fair sample o
what is in the mine. The Baltimore
Victoria is regarded as the bonanz'
property of this section, and tn
possibility of it being operated Oh
am extensive scale, will be pleasan
news to many who are acquainted
with the real merit of the extensive
ore bodies now in sight.
ADDING TO ITS WEALTH.
Another important strike wa